ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Vice President's Secretariat
Vice President greets people on the eve of Buddha Purnima
The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has greeted the nation on the eve of Buddha Purnima. Following is the full text of his message -
“I convey my warm greetings and good wishes to the people of our country on the auspicious occasion of ‘Buddha Purnima’, which marks the birthday of Lord Buddha.
Lord Buddha was one of the most illustrious spiritual leaders to have walked this earth. The eternal message of peace, brotherhood and compassion bestowed by Lord Buddha continues to inspire humanity across the globe to strive towards leading a life based on moral values and contentment.
In our country, festivals are a great occasion for family and friends to come together and celebrate. But given the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, I urge my fellow citizens to celebrate this festival at home and by adhering to COVID health and hygiene protocols.
On this happy occasion, let us commit ourselves to the path of compassion and tolerance shown by Lord Buddha.”
Following is the Hindi version of the message -
“मैं भगवान बुद्ध के जन्म-दिन 'बुद्ध पूर्णिमा' के पावन अवसर पर अपने देशवासियों को हार्दिक बधाई और शुभकामनाएं देता हूँ।
भगवान बुद्ध इस धरती के महानतम आध्यात्मिक गुरुओं में से एक थे। भगवान बुद्ध द्वारा दिया गया शांति, भाईचारा और करुणा का शाश्वत संदेश समग्र विश्व के मनुष्यों को नैतिक मूल्यों और संतोष पर आधारित जीवन जीने की दिशा में प्रयास करने के लिए प्रेरित करता है।
हमारे देश में त्यौहार, परिजनों और मित्रों के साथ परस्पर मिलने और उत्सव मनाने का एक महान अवसर होता है, परंतु कोविड-19 महामारी की स्थिति को ध्यान में रखते हुए मैं अपने नागरिकों से आग्रह करता हूँ कि इस त्यौहार को वे अपने घरों के भीतर और कोविड-संबंधी स्वास्थ्य और स्वच्छता नयाचारों का पालन करते हुए मनाएँ।
खुशी के इस अवसर पर हम सभी भगवान बुद्ध द्वारा दिखाए गए करुणा और सहिष्णुता के मार्ग का अनुसरण करने हेतु अपनी प्रतिबद्धता जताएँ।"
Ministry of Finance
Rajasthan becomes 6th State to complete ease of doing business reforms ; Additional borrowing permission of Rs. 2,731 crore issued
Additional borrowing permission of Rs.19,459 crore granted so far to 6 States for ease of doing business reforms
Rajasthan has become the 6th State in the country to successfully undertake “Ease of Doing Business” reform stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. Thus, the State has become eligible to mobilise additional financial resources of Rs. 2,731 crore through Open Market Borrowings. Permission for the same was issued by the Department of Expenditure on 24th December, 2020. Rajasthan has now joined the five other States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, who have achieved this feat. On completion of reforms facilitating ease of doing business, these six States have been granted additional borrowing permission of Rs.19,459 crore.
The ease of doing business is an important indicator of the investment friendly business climate in the country. Improvements in the ease of doing business will enable faster future growth of the state economy. Therefore, the Government of India had in May 2020, decided to link grant of additional borrowing permissions to States who undertake the reforms to facilitate ease of doing business. The reforms stipulated in this category are:
 Completion of first assessment of ‘District Level Business Reform Action Plan’
 Elimination of the requirements of renewal of registration certificates/approvals/licences obtained by businesses under various Acts.
 Implementation of computerized central random inspection system under the Acts wherein allocation of inspectors is done centrally, the same inspector is not assigned to the same unit in subsequent years, prior inspection notice is provided to the business owner, and inspection report is uploaded within 48 hours of inspection.
In view of the resource requirement to meet the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India had on 17th May, 2020 enhanced the borrowing limit of the States by 2 percent of their GSDP. Half of this special dispensation was linked to undertaking citizen centric reforms by the States. The four citizen centric areas for reforms identified were  Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System,  Ease of doing business reform,  Urban Local body/ utility reforms and  Power Sector reforms.
So far 10 States have implemented the One Nation One Ration Card System, 6 States have done ease of doing business reforms, and 2 States have done local body reforms. Total additional borrowing permission issued so far to the States who have done the refoms stands at Rs.50,253 crore.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 174.64 Cr
More than 37.86 lakh Vaccine Doses administered in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently stands at 98.12%
25,920 New Cases reported in the last 24 hours
India's Active Caseload currently stands at 2,92,092
Weekly Positivity Rate is presently at 2.76%
With the administration of more than 37.86 lakh Doses  vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 174.64 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today.
This has been achieved through 1,97,37,397 sessions. The break-up of the cumulative figure as per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
|
|
Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
1,04,00,341
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
99,46,900
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
39,98,881
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
1,84,07,164
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1,74,05,471
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
57,35,346
|
|
Age Group 15-18 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
5,31,94,507
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1,96,41,290
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
54,97,32,163
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
43,28,23,337
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
20,19,34,366
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
17,76,97,218
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
12,61,20,267
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
11,07,06,285
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
87,55,925
|
|
Precaution Dose
|
|
1,84,90,152
|
|
Total
|
|
1,74,64,99,461
66,254 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients  is now at 4,19,77,238.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.12%.
25,920 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
India’s Active Caseload is presently at 2,92,092. Active cases constitute 0.68% of the country's total Positive Cases.
The testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded. The last 24 hours saw a total of 12,54,893 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 75.68 Cr  cumulative tests.
While testing capacity has been enhanced across the country, Weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently stands at 2.76% and the Daily Positivity rate is reported to be 2.07%.
Ministry of Development of North-East Region
Funds for North-Eastern States
As per extant guidelines, each Central Ministry/Department is expected to spend 10% of its Gross Budgetary Support  as per prescribed norms in North Eastern Region . However, no state-wise allocations are made and funds are released to the States based on requirements against sanctioned projects/schemes. In addition, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region  and North Eastern Council  implement some schemes like Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources , North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme , North East Road Sector Development Scheme  etc. for bridging the infrastructure gaps in certain identified sectors in the NER. Normative allocations under schemes of MDoNER and Schemes of NEC are done as per prescribed norms which inter alia include area; population; human development index, road density; percentage of census villages electrified; number of hospital beds; percentage of households having safe drinking water and completion rate of projects. Release of funds by MDoNER and NEC under their schemes is based on the progress of implementation of projects. The status of funds released during the last five years under the schemes of MDoNER and NEC is as under:-
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|
Sr. No.
|
|
State
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Funds released during last Five Year 
|
|
|
|
|
|
2014-15
|
|
2015-16
|
|
2016-17
|
|
2017-18
|
|
2018-19
|
|
1
|
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
|
251.52
|
|
197.76
|
|
195.68
|
|
284.72
|
|
210.78
|
|
2
|
|
Assam
|
|
293.59
|
|
323.34
|
|
359.12
|
|
313.24
|
|
453.20
|
|
3
|
|
Manipur
|
|
219.59
|
|
259.51
|
|
324.00
|
|
363.25
|
|
366.11
|
|
4
|
|
Meghalaya
|
|
157.15
|
|
193.69
|
|
194.54
|
|
298.00
|
|
118.92
|
|
5
|
|
Mizoram
|
|
95.22
|
|
166.06
|
|
133.03
|
|
242.03
|
|
192.00
|
|
6
|
|
Nagaland
|
|
157.41
|
|
160.28
|
|
177.68
|
|
195.11
|
|
108.92
|
|
7
|
|
Sikkim
|
|
126.16
|
|
77.61
|
|
111.18
|
|
110.40
|
|
160.68
|
|
8
|
|
Tripura
|
|
103.02
|
|
104.82
|
|
139.51
|
|
107.77
|
|
57.34
|
|
|
|
Total States
|
|
1403.66
|
|
1483.07
|
|
1634.74
|
|
1914.52
|
|
1667.95
|
|
|
|
Central Agencies
|
|
51.70
|
|
80.62
|
|
180.31
|
|
104.89
|
|
166.25
|
|
|
|
Grand Total
|
|
1455.36
|
|
1563.69
|
|
1815.05
|
|
2019.41
|
|
1834.2
Although in some cases, delays have been noticed in completion of the projects from the schedule, keeping in view various constraints like short working season, difficult terrain, etc., the pace of development in North Eastern States is considered satisfactory. Continuous efforts are being made for further improvement in the pace of development.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State  Development of North-Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, DrJitendra Singh in written reply to a question in LokSabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM praises efforts towards self employment of women
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has praised the efforts towards self employment of women.
In a tweet, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis informed that 27000 women from Mumbai were empowered as they have been distributed various tools & machines like sewing machine, chakki, masala making machine etc for the self-employment under BMC’s scheme, at Somaiya Maidan, Chunabhatti, Mumbai.
Responding to the tweet by the Deputy CM, the Prime Minister tweeted;
“Commendable effort to further women empowerment.”
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
“Shramik Samman Diwas” observed at ICAR – CCARI
Goa : 3 May 2023
ICAR - Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute , Goa celebrated International Labour Day-2023 as “Shramik Samman Diwas” to recognize and appreciate the contribution of labourers from all sections and units towards the development of the Institute. The event was attended by Dr. A. R. Desai, Ex-Principal Scientist  as the Guest of Honour, Shri Chandra Shekhar, IAS  from Hisar, Haryana as the Special Guest, and Dr. N. P. Singh, Emeritus Scientist as the Chief Guest.
Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director of ICAR CCARI, along with the guests, felicitated labourers by presenting them with hats for field work. He briefed the gathering about various welfare activities and facilities being provided and created for the labourers in the Institute premises. He also affirmed that the Institute would always protect the rights of labourers and reminded everyone to perform their duties with a sense of belongingness and utmost sincerity.
A total of 180 participants including contractual labourers, security guards, housekeeping staff, project staff, young professionals and Institute staff members attended the program. The event provided a platform to recognize the tireless efforts of the labourers and to acknowledge their vital contribution to the growth of the Institute.
GSK/SRT/PM
Follow us on social media:@PIBMumbai /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com /PIBMumbai /pibmumbai
(Visitor Counter : 144
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Shri Nitin Gadkari says priority of the government is to fight pollution and develop Indian technology and innovation towards e-vehicles
Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Nitin Gadkari has said that priority of the government is to fight pollution and develop Indian technology and innovation towards e-vehicles. Addressing India Global forum 2021on ‘Climate Action;Electric mobility Now’ he said Indian research is working aggressively towards pursuing green hydrogen. Shri Gadkari said we are trying our best to convert all our construction material to greener options. He said warm response is being received from the public on the adoption of Electric Vehicles, and he himself uses an electric car and many of the ministers are also using the same.
The Minister said futuristic development is very important. He said two-wheelers and autorickshaws are very popular and through the FAME II government scheme there are many incentives on offer for them to convert to electric.
Shri Gadkari said in the road sector there are great oppurtunities for FDI. He said there is a huge domestic market potential available in India. The Minister said India will be an example to the world as far as e-vehicles are concerned.
Full event link https://youtu.be/cpNE1WmN7wo
MJPS
(Visitor Counter : 1141
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
The Ministry has decided to extend Khelo India scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26: Shri Kiren Rijiju
The Ministry has decided to extend Khelo India scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The Ministry has furnished an Expenditure Finance Committee  memorandum to the Ministry of Finance for extension/continuation of the Khelo India Scheme from 2021-22 to 2025- 26.
An amount of ₹ 8750 crore has been estimated as financial implication of the new Khelo India Scheme  in the EFC memorandum furnished to the Ministry of Finance.An amount of ₹ 657.71 crore has been allocated in the Budget Estimate  for the year 2021-22 under the Khelo India Scheme.
This information was given by Minister of State for Youth Affairs & SportsShri Kiren Rijijuin a written reply in RajyaSabha today.
Ministry of Civil Aviation
DGCA approves for night landing facility at Kalaburagi Airport
Kalaburagi Airport was inaugurated on November 22, 2019
Directorate-General of Civil Aviation  has approved the night landing facility at Kalaburagi Airport, Karnataka on 17th May 2023.
The Kalaburagi Airport was inaugurated on November 22, 2019, by the then Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri B S Yediyurappa. It has a runway of 09-27  and an apron suitable to park 03 aircraft 
There has been a demand for providing night landing facilities to the airport for a long time. With the approval by DGCA for the night landing facility the Aerodrome License for the airport has been amended from VFR  to IFR  for All Weather Operations.
The airport has the following connectivity:
|
|
Airport
|
|
Airline
|
|
Last/Next City Served
|
|
Movements per Week 
as per Slot allocation
|
|
GBI
|
|
Star Air
|
|
Tirupati
|
|
8
|
|
GBI
|
|
Alliance Air
|
|
Bangalore
|
|
10
|
|
GBI
|
|
Star Air
|
|
Bangalore
|
|
8
Ministry of Finance
IFSCA issues consultation paper on proposed Aircraft Leasing Regulations
India is poised to become the 3rd largest aviation market in the world by 2022. In January 2019, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation published a report, ‘Project Rupee Raftar’, that provided roadmap to developing an aircraft financing and leasing industry in India. The report identified International Financial Services Centre  for developing aircraft leasing and financing eco-system in the country.
Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech in July 2019, stated, “The time is ripe for India to enter into aircraft financing and leasing activities from India shores”, this is critical for “development of self-reliant aviation industry” and creating, “aspirational jobs in aviation finance, besides leveraging the business opportunities available in India’s Financial Special Economic Zone namely, International Financial Services Centre .”
On 16th October, 2020, Government of India , on the recommendation of IFSCA, had notified ‘Aircraft lease which shall include operating and financial lease and any hybrid of operating and financial lease of aircraft or helicopter and engines of aircraft or helicopter or any part thereof’ as a financial product under International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019.
Considering, Aircraft leasing is a relatively new industry in India and Aircraft Leasing related regulations are different across various financial centres, IFSCA has prepared draft regulations for Aircraft Leasing and in order to get inputs from stakeholders as well as public comments.
Many global leasing entities have shown interest to set up leasing entity in IFSC in India as it provides them direct reach to one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world. Domestic Airlines have also shown interest to undertake these transactions from IFSC in India as it provides them easy access to global lessors.
Draft regulations have been uploaded on the IFSCA website at the:
URL: https://www.ifsca.gov.in/PublicConsultation
Based on the comments from public, authority would finalize the regulations and provide framework for Aircraft leasing entities to set up operations in IFSC.
Prime Minister's Office
PM lauds Uttar Pradesh's efforts to increase investment and improving ease of doing business
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has lauded Uttar Pradesh's efforts to increase investment and improving the ease of doing business in last four years.
Commenting on a tweet by the office of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, the Prime Minister underlined the fact that rural areas and small towns are also witnessing these achievements.
President's Secretariat
ENVOYS OF four NATIONS PRESENT CREDENTIALS TO the PRESIDENT OF INDIA
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu accepted credentials from the Ambassadors of Estonia, Ukraine, Burkina Faso and Norway at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan today . Those who presented their credentials were:
1. H.E. Mrs Marje Luup, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia
2. H.E. Dr Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine
3. H.E. Dr Desire Boniface Some, Ambassador of Burkina Faso
4. H.E. Mrs May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway
Ministry of Finance
Centre releases Rs.7,532 crore to the States for Disaster Response
Guidelines relaxed to provide funds to States immediately in view of heavy rains and associated natural disasters
The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, has today released an amount of Rs. 7,532 crore to 22 State Governments for the respective State Disaster Response Funds . The amount has been released as per the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs. State-wise details of the amount released are as under:

|
|
S.No.
|
|
State
|
|
Amount
|
||
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
493.60
|
||
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
|
110.40
|
||
|
Assam
|
|
340.40
|
||
|
Bihar
|
|
624.40
|
||
|
Chhattishgarh
|
|
181.60
|
||
|
Goa
|
|
4.80
|
||
|
Gujarat
|
|
584.00
|
||
|
Haryana
|
|
216.80
|
||
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
|
180.40
|
||
|
Karnataka
|
|
348.80
|
||
|
Kerala
|
|
138.80
|
||
|
Maharashtra
|
|
1420.80
|
||
|
Manipur
|
|
18.80
|
||
|
Meghalaya
|
|
27.20
|
||
|
Mizoram
|
|
20.80
|
||
|
Odisha
|
|
707.60
|
||
|
Punjab
|
|
218.40
|
||
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
450.00
|
||
|
Telangana
|
|
188.80
|
||
|
Tripura
|
|
30.40
|
||
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
812.00
|
||
|
Uttrakhand
|
|
413.20
In the wake of heavy rains across the country, the guidelines have been relaxed and the amount has been released as immediate assistance to States without waiting for the utilisation certificate of the amount provided to the States in the last financial year.
The State Disaster Response Fund  has been constituted in each State under Section 48   of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The fund is the primary fund available with State Governments for responses to notified disasters. The Central Government contributes 75% to the SDRF in general States and 90% in North-East and Himalayan States.
The annual Central contribution is released in two equal instalments as per the recommendation of the Finance Commission. As per the guidelines, the funds are released on receipt of Utilisation Certificate of the amount released in the earlier instalment and receipt of a report from the State Government on the activities undertaken from SDRF. However, in view of the urgency, these requirements were waived while releasing the funds this time.
The SDRF is to be used only for meeting the expenditure for providing immediate relief to the victims of notified calamities like cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloud burst, pest attack and frost & cold wave.
Allocation of SDRF funds to the States is based on multiple factors like past expenditure, area, population, and disaster risk index. These factors reflect States' institutional capacity, risk exposure, and hazard and vulnerability.
Based on the 15th Finance Commission recommendations, the Central Government has allocated Rs. 1,28,122.40 crore for SDRF for years 2021-22 to 2025-26. Out of this amount, the Central Government’s share is Rs.98,080.80 crore. The Central Government had already released Rs. 34,140.00 crore before the current release. With the current release, the total amount of Central share of SDRF released to the State Governments so far has gone up to Rs. 42,366 crore.
NITI Aayog
India Celebrates Transport Day at COP26
On Transport Day at COP26, India, represented by NITI Aayog, participated in the fourth ministerial dialogue of the Zero-Emission Vehicle Transition Council , a global forum on enhancing political cooperation on the transition to zero-emission vehicles. ZEVTC brings together ministers and representatives of some of the world’s largest automobile markets to collectively address key challenges in the transition to ZEVs, to enable faster, cheaper, and easier transition to EVs for all.
India has already made great strides on introducing policies towards the faster adoption of electric mobility. On 10 November, the government also launched the E-Amrit portal on EVs, a one-stop destination on all electric vehicles-related information.
NITI Aayog, on behalf of the Government of India, also extended its support today to the non-binding and COP26 declaration focused on global level accelerating transition to zero-emission vehicles.
Several stakeholders—automotive manufacturers, governments, businesses, fleet owners, etc.—made the declaration to actively work towards the proliferation and adoption of zero emission vehicles.
As an emerging market, India highlighted the need to transition the country’s large fleet of two- and three-wheelers—which together comprise more than 80% of the automobiles in the country—to zero-emission vehicles.
Signatories of the pledge called on all developed countries to strengthen international collaboration and support so that a global, equitable and just transition could be realised.
A concerted global effort is required to set up a robust supply chain, evolve new financial instruments for affordable transition to EVs. The EV movement also requires an ecosystem to aid this disruption and create new employment opportunities and indigenous and innovative supply chains.